Steve Weisman
08-29-2005, 06:59 PM
Minnesota State Championship of Walleye Fishing Set for Lake Bemidji
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
Since the final regular season tournament on the Minnesota Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) in late July, the top 30 teams have been anxiously awaiting this year's Minnesota Championship of Walleye fishing. Now it's showdown time as they head to Lake Bemidji on September 10-11 to see who will come away with the guaranteed $5000 for first place.
In addition, the winners will receive the Lowrance "YOU WIN!" award of two Lowrance LMS-332C color sonar/GPS units valued at $1400, making the total first place purse worth $6400.
Leading the way will be the Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year, Michael Marushin and Jeffrey Clem from Minnetonka, MN won the title with 35 points. "These two guys were consistent performers all year," said GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
"There are a lot of opportunities on Lake Bemidji. It is noted for its walleye fishing," noted Barringer.
Ron Bostic, owner of Taber's Bait, agrees. "The walleye fishing has been excellent, but the fish are relating to the weeds and are in the shallows. A straggler or two might be caught deeper, but right now people are fishing in 14 feet of water or shallower."
Trolling chartreuse, nickel or florescent orange blades tipped with either a shiner or a nightcrawler have been working now, but Bostic predicts that will probably change by mid-September, if the water cools down as it normally does.
"If the surface temperature gets into the upper 50s and low 60s, the bite should change to a jig bite," noted Bostic. "The fish will be relating to deeper structure in 30-35 feet of water. There is structure all over this lake. However, there are little humps and log piles that aren't on the regular maps. They will be holding fish."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, September 10, the activities for the Minnesota teams actually begin at 5:30 on Friday evening with supper and rules meeting at Bemidji Marine, the local Skeeter/Yamaha dealer.
The Minnesota Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at Cameron Park. Saturday's action begins at 7 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and take-off. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. Sunday follows the same time frame with the weigh-in festivities beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday's weigh-in will determine who will walk away with the Minnesota Championship of Walleye Fishing title.
"The Minnesota State Championship of Walleye Fishing is going to be an exciting two-day event," said Barringer. "Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. The first day will be a day of positioning, but the second day will be for the title. Plus, on the second day, we will find out from the top teams what strategies they used to catch their fish. I invite folks to come out and be a part of the Championships."
Special awards will be give out at the Championships including the Cabela's Big Fish Award of a $200 shopping spree for the team that catches the largest walleye during the two-day Championships. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the team catching the overall big fish during the Championships.
Skeeter Boats is offering an additional $3000 above their GNWC winnings to any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the Minnesota Championship of Walleye Fishing while fishing in the Skeeter. In addition, the top-finishing Skeeter owner will receive $1000. This extra $1000 is above the $3000 for winning.
YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO will offer the Yo So Close Award of an $80 folding net to the three teams finishing just out of the money.
TowTector, maker of the premium boat protector for towing vehicles, will offer the Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector Shield valued at $269 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
The FoodSource Lure Company is sponsoring $200 in FoodSource Lures for the top placing family team.
Those interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the seven regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the FoodSource Lure Corporation.
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
Since the final regular season tournament on the Minnesota Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) in late July, the top 30 teams have been anxiously awaiting this year's Minnesota Championship of Walleye fishing. Now it's showdown time as they head to Lake Bemidji on September 10-11 to see who will come away with the guaranteed $5000 for first place.
In addition, the winners will receive the Lowrance "YOU WIN!" award of two Lowrance LMS-332C color sonar/GPS units valued at $1400, making the total first place purse worth $6400.
Leading the way will be the Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year, Michael Marushin and Jeffrey Clem from Minnetonka, MN won the title with 35 points. "These two guys were consistent performers all year," said GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
"There are a lot of opportunities on Lake Bemidji. It is noted for its walleye fishing," noted Barringer.
Ron Bostic, owner of Taber's Bait, agrees. "The walleye fishing has been excellent, but the fish are relating to the weeds and are in the shallows. A straggler or two might be caught deeper, but right now people are fishing in 14 feet of water or shallower."
Trolling chartreuse, nickel or florescent orange blades tipped with either a shiner or a nightcrawler have been working now, but Bostic predicts that will probably change by mid-September, if the water cools down as it normally does.
"If the surface temperature gets into the upper 50s and low 60s, the bite should change to a jig bite," noted Bostic. "The fish will be relating to deeper structure in 30-35 feet of water. There is structure all over this lake. However, there are little humps and log piles that aren't on the regular maps. They will be holding fish."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, September 10, the activities for the Minnesota teams actually begin at 5:30 on Friday evening with supper and rules meeting at Bemidji Marine, the local Skeeter/Yamaha dealer.
The Minnesota Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at Cameron Park. Saturday's action begins at 7 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and take-off. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. Sunday follows the same time frame with the weigh-in festivities beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday's weigh-in will determine who will walk away with the Minnesota Championship of Walleye Fishing title.
"The Minnesota State Championship of Walleye Fishing is going to be an exciting two-day event," said Barringer. "Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. The first day will be a day of positioning, but the second day will be for the title. Plus, on the second day, we will find out from the top teams what strategies they used to catch their fish. I invite folks to come out and be a part of the Championships."
Special awards will be give out at the Championships including the Cabela's Big Fish Award of a $200 shopping spree for the team that catches the largest walleye during the two-day Championships. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the team catching the overall big fish during the Championships.
Skeeter Boats is offering an additional $3000 above their GNWC winnings to any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the Minnesota Championship of Walleye Fishing while fishing in the Skeeter. In addition, the top-finishing Skeeter owner will receive $1000. This extra $1000 is above the $3000 for winning.
YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO will offer the Yo So Close Award of an $80 folding net to the three teams finishing just out of the money.
TowTector, maker of the premium boat protector for towing vehicles, will offer the Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector Shield valued at $269 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
The FoodSource Lure Company is sponsoring $200 in FoodSource Lures for the top placing family team.
Those interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the seven regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the FoodSource Lure Corporation.